South Australian pilot charged with indecent assault of young girl, producing child abuse material

A South Australian pilot who flies for one of the world’s top airlines has been charged with abusing a young girl and recording it.

A South Australian pilot who flies for one of the world’s major airlines has been arrested and charged with producing child abuse material while allegedly recording himself abusing a young girl.

The pilot, who legally cannot be identified, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court for the first time on Monday.

Magistrate Oliver Koehn heard a bail application for the man that detailed the alleged offending against a child younger than 10.

The man is charged with nine offences – one count of indecent assault, two counts of gross indecency and three counts each of producing and possessing child exploitation material. No pleas have been entered.

The court heard the pilot’s phone allegedly contained 18 “explicit videos” that depicted him with the child.

The court heard one video of the man’s alleged offending was recorded and committed while wearing a T-shirt with the words “super dad” – clothing later located in his home.

Prosecutor Chloe-Roxanne Kourakis told the court they were opposed to bail, stating the man’s work and connections nationally and internationally could allow him to take flight during ongoing investigations.

“This investigation is ongoing, information has been received that the accused has been accessing child exploitation material on his electronic devices,” Ms Kourakis said.

“Not all the devices have been accessed by police and the defendant has refused and continues to refuse to provide the necessary information to access the devices and social media accounts.

“There is concern that the defendant will access his cloud and social media accounts if released and delete the evidence on file.”

Ms Kourakis said a Magistrates Court order had been granted, which compelled him to supply the required passwords.

The court heard the victim was “extremely vulnerable” and if contacted by the man could impact investigations.

Defence counsel for the pilot said his family relied on his income, and would comply with all strict forms of bail if released from custody.

The court heard the man had cancelled a holiday after learning police were looking for him.

They submitted two supporters of the man were prepared to offer guarantees, and the pilot himself could lodge $12,000 with the court if released.

Mr Koehn refused bail due to “extremely serious” allegations and the “sensitive” stage of the investigation.

The pilot will return to court next year.